Arsenal edge past Brighton to go top of table

2 years ago 36

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By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport

Last updated on 16 minutes ago.From the section Premier League

Gabriel Jesus heads in Arsenal's opening goal against Brighton

Arsenal eventually saw off a stubborn Brighton to move back above Liverpool - for a few hours at least - at the top of the Premier League.

With Liverpool hosting Manchester United at 16:30 GMT, the Gunners returned to the summit thanks to Gabriel Jesus' header and Kai Havertz's late strike.

Arsenal dominated the first half without reward, but the tension eased when Jesus turned in after a corner.

The hosts were almost punished when Pascal Gross poked wide before Havertz sealed victory to spark joyous celebrations at a relieved Emirates Stadium.

The Seagulls, who were looking for a third successive league victory at Emirates Stadium, managed just one shot on target.

After a conservative first-half performance, Brighton offered more attacking threat in the final half an hour but anything other than a home win would have been scarcely deserved.

Arsenal had 25 shots in the match and almost added a late third through substitute Emile Smith Rowe.

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More to follow.

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-3

22Raya
4WhiteBooked at 38mins
2Saliba
6Gabriel
35ZinchenkoSubstituted forKiwiorat 90+3'minutes
8Ødegaard
41Rice
29HavertzSubstituted forSmith Roweat 89'minutes
7SakaSubstituted forNelsonat 89'minutes
9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNketiahat 81'minutes
11MartinelliSubstituted forTrossardat 82'minutes

Substitutes

1Ramsdale
10Smith Rowe
14Nketiah
15Kiwior
17Cédric Soares
19Trossard
24Nelson
59Lewis-Skelly
76Walters

Brighton

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Verbruggen
34VeltmanSubstituted forHinshelwoodat 27'minutes
29van Hecke
5Dunk
6MilnerSubstituted fordos Santos de Pauloat 60'minutes
13GroßBooked at 89mins
11GilmourBooked at 76mins
24AdingraSubstituted forWelbeckat 79'minutes
14LallanaSubstituted forBuonanotteat 60'minutes
22MitomaBooked at 43mins
28FergusonSubstituted forJoão Pedroat 60'minutes

Substitutes

3dos Santos de Paulo
8Dahoud
9João Pedro
15Moder
18Welbeck
20Baleba
23Steele
40Buonanotte
41Hinshelwood

Referee:Tim Robinson

Attendance:60,257

Live Text

Match ends, Arsenal 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Pascal Groß is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Igor Julio.
Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Attempt saved. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leandro Trossard with a headed pass.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Reiss Nelson.
Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Arsenal. Reiss Nelson replaces Bukayo Saka.
Substitution, Arsenal. Emile Smith Rowe replaces Kai Havertz.
Goal! Arsenal 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 0. Kai Havertz (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eddie Nketiah.
Attempt missed. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Pascal Groß with a cross.
Attempt blocked. João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
Attempt blocked. João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
Foul by Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).
Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Declan Rice (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Attempt missed. Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma.